Glycothermal Synthesis and Characterization of 3Y-TZP Nanoparticles

In this study, 3 mol% yttria-tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (3Y-TZP) nanoparticles were synthesized by the glycothermal method under various reaction temperatures and times. The co-precipitated precursor of 3Y-TZP was prepared by adding $NH_4OH$ to starting solutions, and then the mixtures were placed in an autoclave reactor. Tetragonal yttria-doped zirconia nanoparticles were afforded through a glycothermal reaction at a temperature as low as $220^{\circ}C$, using co-precipitated gels of $ZrCl_4$ and $YCl_3{\cdot}6H_2O$ as precursors and 1,4-butanediol as the solvent. The synthesized 3Y-TZP particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The 3Y-TZP particles have a stable tetragonal phase only at glycothermal temperatures above $200^{\circ}C$. To investigate phase transition, the 3Y-TZP particles were heat treated from 400 to $1400^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. Raman analysis indicated that, after heat treatment, the tetragonal phase of the 3Y-TZP particles remained stable. The results of this study, therefore, suggest that 3Y-TZP powders can be prepared by the glycothermal method.